What the Brennan Nomination, Looming Sequester Cuts, and the Winding Down of the War in Afghanistan Mean for the Global UAV Market

Global Information reports: What the Brennan Nomination, Looming Sequester Cuts, and the Winding Down of the War in Afghanistan Mean for the Global UAV Market. (PRNewsFoto/Global Information, Inc.)

Global Information reports: What the Brennan Nomination, Looming Sequester Cuts, and the Winding Down of the War in Afghanistan Mean for the Global UAV Market. (PRNewsFoto/Global Information, Inc.)

FARMINGTON, Conn., Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- UAVs represent a very active market within the defense industry, and recent trends are not likely to change that trajectory. The nomination of John Brennan to serve as head of the CIA represents – according to pundits – a reaffirmation of America's policy of using unmanned aerial vehicles as a cornerstone of its force projection and defense capabilities. Looming sequester cuts in military budgets do not seem likely to impact this burgeoning sector, and the overall market for UAVs and related products and services stands to grow significantly over the next decade.

Beyond the United States, UAVs are also becoming an integral component of modern military forces worldwide. The global UAV market will also see increased spending on national UAV payload and subsystem market in major European countries as well as South American and Asia-Pacific nations.

As the premier source for military and defense research and forecasts, Global Information (GII) presents three reports below that provide valuable data for organizations seeking to capitalize on the market activity around the use and procurement of UAVs around the globe.

The Global UAV Payload Market 2012-2022

The global UAV payload market is expected to increase to $68.6 billion by 2022, representing a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Market demand is anticipated to be driven by increased UAV procurement by several countries across the world and continuous requirement formulations in areas such as persistent surveillance, suppression/destruction of enemy air defense (SEAD/DEAD), communications relays and combat search and rescue (CSAR). Another major factor which is expected to drive the market over the forecast period is the increasing incorporation of UAVs in civilian applications such as Homeland Security, disaster management and border surveillance.

The rise in research, procurement, and use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past decade has seen significant advances made in the range of UAV payloads and subsystems available. UAV payloads are identified as the main focus for overall UAV development, as nations look to expand the mission capabilities of their UAVs and undertake operations which were not previously considered safe, effective, or economical for manned aircraft. This has led to new and innovative payloads being developed which are constantly being reduced in size and weight, but which offer greater capability, flexibility, and maximum mission value. As a consequence, Visiongain has determined that the value of the global UAV payload and subsystems market in 2012 will reach $2.96bn.

The strong military market has in turn led to a greater emphasis on the civilian use of UAVs, with payloads conducting operations in the fields of surveillance, imaging, detection and mapping. Visiongain expects that an easing of civilian UAV regulations in the US will result in a high level of sales potential, with the distinct possibility of less European restrictions following suit. National UAV payload and subsystem markets for the US and major European countries will remain central to the UAV payload market over the forecast period to 2022.

The UAV expansion, which began with the US, Brazil and Israel, will create new markets and new business opportunities. That's particularly true for integrated capabilities guided by an operating concept and turnkey packages that include equipment, training, operations and maintenance. Small nations are discovering this technology. Smaller UAV types will especially benefit in these new markets where the established players have less influence and the more complex UAVs have less relevance.

About Global Information Inc. Global Information (GII) (http://www.giiresearch.com) is an information service company partnering with over 300 research companies around the world. Global Information has been in the business of distributing technical and market research for more than 25 years. Expanded from its original headquarters in Japan, Global Information now has offices in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Europe and the United States.